The latest Marvel Studios release of their Phase 2 group of films, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, hints at one of the next potential Marvel movie franchises in Doctor Strange. The alter ego of Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange, is mentioned during the course of the film in one of its many Easter Eggs. This is perhaps the most significant step to possibly show that Marvel is intent on finally assembling Doctor Strange’s first live-action film appearance. With his first onscreen reference in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an onscreen appearance could very well next for the good Doctor Strange.

Long rumored and oft-discussed is a new live-action film based on the Doctor Strange comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #110 in 1963. The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Stephen Strange was a prolific surgeon, and his hands were seriously maimed in an accident. Eventually, he goes on a path to study the mystical arts and becomes a force for good, protecting the Earth from dark threats from other dimensions and other phantasmagoria.

The character has appeared in numerous iterations of Marvel animated cartoons, and he even received a live-action TV pilot once. However, it appears the Doctor Strange reference in Captain America: The Winter Soldier could very well be the first hint that a big budget Doctor Strange movie is finally on the horizon. During the course of the film, the terrorist organization known as HYDRA reveals Stephen Strange as a target because he’s a potential threat. Stephen Strange is, of course, Doctor Strange’s real name.

In the past, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Moviefone in an interview that Marvel Studios is developing a Doctor Strange film and talked about how he would operate in his first cinematic appearance: “I do think [Doctor] Strange is one that I certainly think you start off with his own movie. There’s no right way or wrong way necessarily in the big picture, but because he’s associated with such a different side of the Marvel Universe, to suddenly have our characters turn a corner and go, ‘Oh, hey, let’s go see the Sorcerer Supreme.’ What? What are you talking about?”

He added that Marvel is still meeting and figuring out a director for the project, saying, “Well, it’s real that we’re meeting with directors now. I would not say it’s down to three yet.” Feige, continued, “I wish it was. I’d like to find a director as soon as possible and start continuing to develop the movie.”

Feige would not confirm or deny if we could see a Doctor Strange film in Marvel’s upcoming Phase 3 group of film releases, set to begin on Jul 17, 2015 with Ant-Man. Phase 2, of which Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a part of, concludes with Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015. Sequels to Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier are all but assured for Phase 3 as well. Iron Man is now on the back burner for now with that franchise’s trilogy now complete. So with the tease in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it looks more and more likely that Doctor Strange will be featured among Marvel’s Phase 3 film releases.

7 Responses to "‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ Features Tease of ‘Doctor Strange’"

Both Stan Lee and Steve Ditko are credited as co-creators of Doctor Strange in every instance of his creators being credited. This is not PR machinery. His entry at Comic Vine lists his creators as Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Based on research, both Lee and Ditko are credited as his creators. Ultimately, who actually created certain characters and ideas could be up for debate. Jack Kirby’s heirs believe Kirby had a significant hand in creating Spider-Man and sued for copyright of the character.

Yup, Dr Goebells said long ago to simply repeat a lie over and over and over.

I am sure your heart is pure, simply misguided.

Perception then becomes “reality.” Fact is Stan Lee wrote in teh fan press back in 1964 that “Steve Ditko created Doctor Strange all by himself”

– once Martin Goodman sold marvel Comics in 1968 all the “creation myths” began as Stan Lee struggled to maintain his own job at Marvel.

We are not involving creation concepts of Peter Parker aka Spider-Man nor is the memory of Jack Kirby being invoked. That travesty of justice is a whole nother ball of wax which has less than zero bearing here regarding Doctor Strange.

This internet firm “Comic Vine” is not any sort of be-all, end-all ‘gospel” of proper comics lore akin to citing wikipedia as ultimate “source” of truth.

I point out Ditko creaating Doctor Strange – all by himself – where ever i see such myth perpetuated. I even published a letter from Steve Ditko back in 1969. Am in the credits of over 200 comics history books. I know of what I write.

Stan Lee did not “co”-create Doctor Strange. His own original written words counter any later claims on that note.

Robert, Sir you are very disrespectful. Even if what you say is true you give no citation that can be referenced as it being factual. I do not have any credentials for making such bold statements, however with that said, if I do have something to say I back it up with citing it in a way that can be referenced. Your quotation of “gospel” is utterly ridiculous. Gospel literally just means “good news”. So in short if you are going to post on the internet such things as “Your data sources are wrong. period. Pure & Simple.” make room in your 500 word essay a hyperlink to back up your point other wise you are no better than the rest of the internet that you are referencing. If you need me to break this down even further for you let me know. I am more than willing to bring it down even further for you so you can understand.

Steve Ditko creatted Doctor Strange. Stan Lee did not “create” Doctor Strange. Why do you perpetuate such fallacy ? Stan himself wrote some 50 years ago Steve Ditko created Doctor Starnge all by himself in press accounts back in 1964. It is getting very tiring to see Stan Lee credited with that what he did not do. Are you accurate journalists or simply PR machinery? If the latter, your firm becomes a travesty